Essex County Cricket Club has appointed Nigel Hilliard as the new Chairman to replace David Acfield who stepped down from the position two weeks ago.

A successful businessman with a Freight Forwarding Company, the 52-year-old has been an Essex Committee member for 11 years and brings with him a deep working knowledge of Essex recreational cricket, including having played with distinction for more than 20 years for Colchester and East Essex, and represented the County's Second XI in the past.

Upon confirmation of his new appointment he said: "The first thing we need to do is to bring some stability to the Club after the turbulence of the past few weeks. Clearly there have been things that have gone on this year which have not been acceptable to large parts of the membership. The question to be asked is how much of that is because the team have not performed well. Currently we are seen as failures and clearly we need to do something about it, but there are not going to be any overnight revolutions.

"I want to restore stability and I will be looking at all aspects of the Club and hopefully by this time next year things will be brighter for everyone. Obviously we need to strengthen the playing quality we have at the Club, but I would stress that although headlines are made by what you see happening on the field at first-team level, what is actually happening underneath – the amount of work and structure that is in place all the way down to the Under-10 level – is quite phenomenal.

"Although financially we made a significant loss last year for the first time in more than 20 years, I am convinced that has been turned around this year, and that indicates part of the progress of the Club which obviously is not seen on the field.

"There are good things happening at this cricket club which will become manifest as time evolves."

Commenting on the appointment, Chief Executive David East said: "I believe Nigel is an excellent choice. He is fully aware of the reality, requirements and demands of the first-class game, and this is combined with his extensive knowledge of all levels of the game throughout the county.

"He certainly has uninhibited views of what he believes is necessary to take the Club onwards and I am looking forward to working with him for the benefit of Essex Cricket. He has a sound commercial background and in these challenging financial times that is an important additional quality that he brings to the role of Chairman."

David East Chief Executive

© ECCC